Monday, December 30, 2013

It's hard to believe the year is almost over already! Wasn't it January only yesterday? A lot of bloggers have been doing year-end outfit roundups and I thought I would be unoriginal and do the same. I love seeing how ones personal style can change with the seasons.

So without further ado, here are my favourite outfits from each month of 2013 (except July since I didn't post any outfit shots):

I hope everyone has a great New Years Eve! (Mine is going to be spent playing board games and knitting with my best friend. Doesn't get much better than that!)

Friday, December 27, 2013

We made it through Christmas without losing power again! There is still a risk of losing power, due to the heavy ice still on the branches, but hopefully the worst is over. Our neighbors only just had their power restored yesterday.

Christmas day was lovely. I received some lovely gifts, including a bunch of jigsaw puzzles, a cast iron loaf pan, and a spinning wheel. My dad made me the spinning wheel based on plans I found for a small compact model, although he didn't quite get it done due to the power outage. I will post pictures as soon as it is finished (and I figure out how to work it!).

I haven't had time for any proper outfit shots, but here are a couple quick snaps I took of my holiday outfits:

Monday, December 23, 2013

This may be my last post until after Christmas if the power goes out again. We were hit by a really bad ice storm on the weekend and have been without power or heat. We've been luckier than most, and our power was only out for about 20 hours in total. Some folks may not get power until after Christmas! The storm is over but there is still a danger of the heavy ice covered branches coming down on the power lines.

Power lines! Please, please stay up there!

This was our drive way

A lot of our friends and neighbors are still without power. This time of a year power outages are more than just an inconvenience; they are downright dangerous. I was very concerned about my cat freezing to death, but she seemed warmer than the rest of us. I hope everyone still without power is staying safe and has found somewhere warm to stay.

And to everyone: Merry Christmas! (just in case I'm without power again...)

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

I had most of my shopping done weeks ago, but my friend needed to go into the city to pick up a few things so I accompanied her to the mall with the promise of going to the yarn store afterwards. I'm not a fan of malls, but for yarn and a latte I will go just about anywhere. I also helped my friend pick out some gorgeous grey alpaca/merino as a Christmas gift to me. Yarn is such a personal thing and she wanted to make sure she bought something I would actually use, not just have sit in my ever growing stash.

I have this theory that you can tell a lot about a person from the yarn they choose. All my friends that are knitters seem to be automatically drawn to yarn that reflects their personality. And I don't just mean the yarn reflects their sense of style, which of course it would, but they seem to be drawn to fibres/colours/styles that reflect who they are as a person. Anyone else notice this? It makes me wonder what my yarn choices say about me....

With the early morning light streaming through the windows I snapped a few slightly blurry outfit photos before I left. My outfit doesn't look super warm but it was. It was -18C outside and we had a 40 minute walk to the yarn store (since someone is too cheap to pay for transit...) so I made sure to wear many layers. Under the dress is another heavier-weight skirt and a tank-top. I also wore a pair of knee socks over-top of my thick stockings (I would have added a pair of bloomers too if I had of remembered). By the time I added my scarf, gloves, earmuffs, winter coat, and riding boots I was as warm as anything. Long skirts/dresses are my new favorite "winter wear". I've found they keep my legs even warmer than trousers.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

I've been working on posting some "holiday hairstyle" videos. I decided to just do "vintage inspired" looks instead of my normal historically accurate stuff so I would be able to post a bunch (saves time when you don't need to research!). I had some technically difficulties (aka my computer hates me) so I haven't gotten them all done, but I thought I may as well share the two I have posted. Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

I'm in full Christmas-mode. The decorating isn't done yet but the gift creating is almost done. I love making gifts instead of buying them. Some of my presents this year were made from stuff I already had, but I did need to buy a few supplies. So Britt and I headed to the craft store. While we were there, she snapped a few outfit photos for me. It was too dark outside for photos so we took them in the middle of the yarn aisle (ie my natural habitat). Despite a few odd looks, it was a lot of fun.

I'm wearing my new grey skirt. It is 1930's style and high-waisted. The fabric definitely needs some static-guard or something though. It was clinging to my legs like crazy! I paired it with my 1930s-style sweater and knitted hat. The hat I knitted from a free 1930s pattern. My Ravelry page for the project (with a link to the pattern) can be found here. Feel free to add me as a friend if you are also on Ravelry!

This last picture is from a few weeks ago and has nothing to do with anything. I just thought it was an awesome teapot.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

It is really starting to feel like winter. We got a fresh blanket of snow and I couldn't resist taking my camera along on my normal walk to snap a few quick shots. It is always prettiest right after the snow.

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My shop is having a Cyber Monday sale. To save 20% off any purchase over $40, use the coupon code: CYBERMONDAY. I'm starting it early, so you can take advantage of this deal anytime from now until 11:59pm on Monday.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

With the cold weather now upon us, photographing garments for my shop is no longer possible to do outside. My house doesn't have any good spots for photographs so I was in need of a photo backdrop. I went to a couple camera stores and was shocked how expensive most photo backdrops were. The only one I liked was $170. Yikes! Luckily I'm rather resourceful and made my own for under $30.

The best part of this backdrop is that is can be hung from any curtain rod. Which again saves a lot of money (the backdrop stands I saw started at $200). I did my photoshoot in my parents family room and hung the backdrop from the rod above the window. My only complaint about the set-up was the lighting but that was entirely to do with my rather pathetic old camera lights (I reeeeeeally need new ones).

The fabric you choose for your backdrop should be an upholstery or drapery fabric. They are wider and made of a thicker weight of material. I bought mine from the sale section of my local fabric store and the final cost was about $25. Neutral fabrics are the most versatile but fabric in a fancy colour could look really great depending on what you are photographing. However try to avoid busy patterns that will detract too much from what you are photographing!

Materials
-At least 3 meters of fabric (see above notes)
-3 ties at least 17" long (I used t-shirt yarn, but something strong like a shoelace will also work)

Instructions
1) Finish the top and bottom edges of your fabric. You could do a fancy hem, but I just pulled the last few rows of threads out to make a fringe. This part shouldn't be visible in your photographs so it doesn't need to be too neat.
2) Sew the center of ties to the top of the fabric. Place one on each end and one in the middle. Make sure it is well secured.

One of the corner ties.

And that's pretty much it. To put up your background, just tie the ties around the rod. Happy photographing!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

We had the first dusting of snow last night. The air was delightfully chilly today and just what I needed to get rid of my headache. I've been inside too much lately.

I wore my snowflake brooch and reindeer/snowflake skirt in honor of the changing of the seasons. I always wear the brooch on the first snowfall of the year. The skirt was inspired by some 1950's sweater skirts I saw in an old magazine. The fabric I used is knitted on the outside and "sweatshirt-fuzzy" on the inside, making it perfect for cold weather. I went petticoat-less since the extra bulk wouldn't fit under my coat!

Outfit Details

Snowflake brooch: Gift

Skirt: Made by me

Flats: Bigleys

Hair Accessory: Micheals (it's from the floral arrangement section)

Everything Else: been in my closet too long to remember

I love this old coat. I've had it for at least 8 years but it had been neglected at the back of the coat closet for a long time. It was missing half the buttons and the waist detailing was falling off (basically a strip of fabric on either side of the waist. I'm sure they have a more technical name...) Last year, during a declutter, I was about to throw it out when I stopped and thought "Wait! I can fix this!". Some "new" vintage buttons later, I have what seems like a new coat. I love the pop of colour the buttons give it, and I re-positioned the waist pieces so there is only one at the back. I prefer garments with buttons, rather than zippers, since they are much easier to repair.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Yikes! Where does the time go?! I was shocked to realize that November is already nearing and end. I'm sure only yesterday it was August.

I've been busy making some new dresses just in time for the holiday season. Britt came over a couple days ago for a photoshoot. I must admit, I'm still getting used to photographing indoors. I love shooting outside but it is just waaaaaaayyy too cold for that now. After trying a number of different locations, I ended up making myself a backdrop. It was super easy and I will be posting a tutorial on it sometime in the next week or so. Now I just need some better lights....

For more details on any of the dresses please visit my shop (just click the Phonograph Fashions image in my side bar ----->)

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Friday, November 8, 2013

I was so excited to go to the Royal this year!! I have been to the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair before, but I don't remember it at all. I have a sneaking suspicion that's because I was two years old at the time. I went down again a couple days ago and it was a lot of fun. I have farming aspirations and loved seeing the different breeds of animals up close. The fair was geared more towards "city folk" but there was plenty to hold my attention. I took a lot of photos and thought I would share a few of my favourites. Warning: This is a very, very photo heavy post!

But first, my outfit! I wore a blouse based on a 1940s design, which I made during the summer. I paired it with a thrifted navy skirt, warm stockings, a wide belt, and a blue three-stranded necklace (made by me). On my feet I wore my riding boots (I don't actually ride anymore, I just like the boots). I'm glad I wore the boots since some parts of the fair were a little *ahem* "messy".

Now on to the fair!

You have no idea how much I want chickens. As soon as I move to an area that will allow them, I'm buying myself a small flock!

I realize it looks like a giant puff ball, but this is actually a Silkie. This is a type of chicken I've wanted for a long time. They are so fluffy and supposed to be very gentle birds.

I love the feather pattern on this bird. It almost looks like polka dots.

I just had to feed the alpaca at the petting zoo. Unfortunately the goat kept shoving the sweetlittle alpaca out of the way!

Cuddling Cows

A spinners dream: massive pile of award winning fleeces.

This angora bunny was the softest animal I have ever felt.

Sleepy Sheep

Llama!

Apparently the sheep wear these outfits to prevent their fleece from getting things stuck in it. I was kind of disappointed as it meant one type of sheep looked more or less like another. It is really hard to check out the differences between breeds when they are all wearing hoods and jackets. They kind of reminded me of little executioners.

These sheep had slightly more stylish outfits.

My one purchase of the day. I love getting yarn as a souvenir. It's a sock yarn in a alpaca/merino blend.

I resisted the urge to post all 200 chicken photos. You're welcome.

Attending the fair only reaffirmed how much I want to move out to the country, and how much I don't want to work in the city. We are starting the property search once again this weekend, and checking out a few places. We were bitterly disappointed about the last property we saw and almost bought, so a rest was needed to get over the heartbreak. However, I am now looking forward to again searching for the perfect country property. And getting some chickens...